Artificial-limb suspender and back-check.



J. F. RQYHI'I-Y.v ARTIFICIAL LIIII. IIISPIINDBII AND BAGII CHECK.

.EELEOAHON IYILED 0GT.15, 1906.

96 1 ,116@s Pateutef June 14, 1910.

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the leg, A knee-bolt 4 passes through the vpatent; and to provide a suitable form of nnirnn ordres.

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Patent Number 644,464, but in which the connection between the suspenderv and the leg-section, whereby the latter is' moved on. its knee-joint, is made through the interior of the thigh-section, instead of being made outside of the. linee-joint as in the specific forni of said invention shown in the drawing forming part of the specification of said back-check and connection between. 'the backcheck and the suspender whereby the leg section may be moved forward on its ivotal connection with the thigh-section. These objects are accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an artificial limb partly broken away, showing the 4interior connections of the suspender Fig. 2 is a front elevation of an artilicial limb and suspender constructed according to this invention and having the lower part of the leg-section broken away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same device with theupper parts'of the suspender broken away.

In the construction shown, the thigh-section 1 and the leg-section 2 are pivot'elly connected at the knee-joint 3 at each side of thigh-section between said joints 3. The back-check is of rigid material and is secured to the leg-section 2 by'xneans ot a sleeve 6 and is connected with the kneebolt et by means of the sleeve 7. The sleeve 7 serves to hold the back-check 5 'at the proper height yin the sleeve 6. The forwerd end of back-check is. provided with an eye 8 for engaging the strap 9. The strap 9 extends through an opening 10 on. eachside of the thigh-section and is provided at its ends with the pulleys 11 and 12. The ulley 11 has 'the strepl passing throught e same, and having iis upper en,4

1906. Serial No. B.

.1st adapted to pass-over one shoulder of the wearer. A similar strap 15 engages the ul- `ley 12 and has its upper end 16v adapted? to ass over and be 'supported upon theother s ionlder or" vthe wearer. The part of ,the bach-check. li which projects forwerdoit the sleeve 7 abats' against@ pad 17 when `the le section is in t c straightened position re atively of the thigh-section, The pad 17 is supported on a cross-piece 18 which eX- tends across Aand is rigidly secured within the thigh-section- The strap 13 is slidingiy connected to the thigh-section by Ineens of the guides 18 and 19. The strap 15 similarly slidingly connected to the thigh-section by ineens oi e' guide 20 et the front and similar guide at the rear, corresponding to the guide 19.

The opera-tion of the device is es follows: The upper parts 14e and 15 or the suspenderloops pass over the shoulders oi the wearer f and support the thigh-section in proper position upon the stinnpdeg. 'When the wearer stands in en erect position., the suspenderloo s will draw upwardly on the strap '9 an on the forwardly projecting end of the backrheclr, and will thereby pull the section toward the 'forward limit .of its piv etal movement on'the thighsection. ll/lhen the'wearer bends forward slightly or lowers his shoulders, oryreises the thigh-section forwardly, as in the act of walking, the shoulderestraps will cease to. draw vupwardly on the strep 9, and will permitthe lewsection 2 to move backwerdly on its pivotal connection with the thigh-section.A -rlo straighten the leo-section or bringthe same forward tower a position of elinement with the thighsection, tl wearer will. straighten his hotly or raise the shoulders so as to exert an upward tension on the suspender-loops and the strap ln any position ci the leg', the i'ree ton ward and backward movement oi the body of the wearer is not int erred with, `since thestreps 13 land 15 will slide freely through the pulleys 11 and 12 and through the guides on the thigh-section. The sliding connection of thesuspender-loops with the thigh-section prevents the snspendereloops from shifting or drawing baci: and forth )verA the shoulders or" the wearer when -he bends his body forward or backward. The

pad 17 and cross-piece 18, abutting against;

the top of the forwardly projecting partfoif' 'i -'the back-cheek-5 limitsthe forwarfmorer V20 ported on the shoulder of the wearer, an ex- -30y a leg section pivotally connected together, a

nient of the legsection on its pivotal conl a leg-section pivotally connected together, a

nection, to a position in alinement with the knee-bolt extending across the thigh-section thigh-section. The strap 9 will slide 'at said pivotal connection, a back-check of slightly through the eye 18 if one shoulder rigid material extending from the leg-secof tne wearer is raised more than the other, l tion to the interior of the thigh-section, a

but this sliding movement is not as free as i sleeve surrounding said knee-bolt and rig- '7e the sliding movement ofthe suspender, loops l idlyv secured to the back-check, and a susthrough the pulleys 1l and 12. An upward-'l pender-loop slidingly engaging the thi htension on either suspender loop -will theresection and having a connection to the back- 10 fore pull the leg-section toward the forward check adapted to move the leg-section for- 75 limit of its movement on its pivotal connecward on its pivotal-'connection to the thightion with the thigh-section.

What I Aclaim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l.. The combination of a thigh section, a

leg section pivotally' connected thereto, a

6I.) The combination ot a thigh section and a leg section pivotally connectedvtogethei", so a back-check'ofstit material securedto the leg section and extending to the interior of the thigh section, anda suspender loop, slidingly engaging the thigh-section and tensionfor said suspender loop extending from a point intermediate of said guides to the interior of the thigh section ,and means to said back-check at a point within the thigh section and removed -from the axis of said pivotal connection. p

7. The combination of a thigh-section and aleg-section pivotally connected together, 90 aI knee-bolt' extending across the thigh-section at said pivota-lconnection, a back-check ofrigid material extending from the legsection to the interior of the thigh-section, a sleeve secured to the leg-section and engag- 95 ing said back-checlna'nd a sleeve surrounding said knee-bolt and rigidly secured to the back-check, Yand -a snspenderiloop slidingly engaging the thigh-section and having. a connection to the baclr-check adapted to 100 Said leg section, all arranged .to swing the legfs'ection forward on its pivotal connection through an upward tension on said loop.

2. The combination ofa thigh section and member extending upward from theleg section into the interior of the thigh sect-ion, .and va suspender loop slidingly connected to said' thigh section and adapted to passfover and bev supported on the Shoulderof the wearer, and having a connection to said u move the leg-section forward on its pivotal wardly extending member "at a point ins e connection toxthe thighfsection, through an said thigh section and removed from the 'upward tension on said loop. l j axis of said pivotal connection. 8. The combination with av thigh-section sectionfthroiigh an upwardr'tension on said having. an extension operatively connected 85 40 3. The combination .cfa thighsection and and a leg-sectionpivotally connected, to'- 105 .I

aleg-section connected by a kneejoint, a gether, 'of a lever fulcriimed-in the thigh suspender loop slidingly connected to said section and having upper and lower arms, thighsection, having a' rotating shifting the lower arm being connected with the legmovement relative thereto, adapted to pass section, al suspender connected with'the' upover and be Supported on the shoulder of per arm ofthe leveiyand means coperating 11othe we arer, and aving a flexible extension with the lever for .limiting the forward running .to the inside ofthe thigh-section, movement' of the leg-section, substantially and intermediate means connecting said exas set forth. tension with said leg-section and adapted to 9.A The combination with-a thigh-section,

move the leg-section on its knee-joint a leg section and a' .pivot connecting the 11.5 l

. through an upward tension on saidvloop. same, the thigh section being provided in its 4. The combination of a thigh-section and Asides above said pivot with npenings and in a leg-section connected by a knee-joint, a its rear side with a slot, a lever mounted on Y y suspender loop slidingly connected to said said pivot and having an upper arm ar- '55' thigh-section, having a" rotating shifting ranged wholly within the thigh section and 120 movement relative thereto, adapt-ed to pass l a lower arm extending downwardly through over and be supported onlthe shoulder of the slot of the thigh-section'into the 'legthe wearer, a flexible extension sl-idinglyl section and secured to the latter, and; a. sus'- connected tosa-id loop and running to the inpender having members which pass through 6 side of the thigh-section, and intermediate the side openings of the thigh section and 125 means connecting said. extension with said are secured to the upper. arm of said lever l substantially as set forth. 10. The combination of a thigh section, tension on said loop. leg section pivotally connected therewith, a

85 l5. I ecombination of a thigh-section and suspender loop slidingly connectedy to the 150 @emes thigh section and adapted to pass over and be su ported on the shoulder of the wearer, said op having :L iiexible extension, and e rocking back-check having an arm Wholly within said thigh section and there engaging With said suspender extension.

l1, The combination of a thigh-section and a leg-section cennected by a knee-joint, with a suspender connected to the 1eg-section at a point providing leverage outside of the axis of the knee-joint, said suspender comprising a loo having a rotating, shifting movement re ativeiy of said omt 'and adapted to extend over the shoui er of the wearer to form a shoulder strep, and said and seid shoulder .sti-eg: extending throughy the interior of the thig section.

12. The combination of e thigh section, a leg section pivotaliy connected thereto, a suspender loop o eratively connected to the outside of saidt igh section and having a flexible extension running to the interior of said thigh Section through holes in the Walls thereof, and rigid connecting means between said extension and said leg section.

Signed at Chicago this 13th day of October 1906.

JAMES F. ROWLEY. Witnesses: WM. R. RUMMLER, L. A. SMITH. 

